ROME TOWNHIP — Area seniors came together Friday to celebrate the end of summer at First Baptist Church in Rome Township.

The Sybene-Chesapeake Senior Center hosted a garden party and it drew a crowd of a few hundred.

The event was sponsored by Proctorville Kroger, senior center director Darlene Green said.

To kick off the event, Kroger workers gave out door prizes to the crowd, for those who could successfully produce a Kroger receipt or find the store’s app on their phone.

When they were asked to show their Kroger Plus card, dozens of hands shot up around the room, claiming the prize.

After the giveaway, a representative from the store’s pharmacy gave advice to the crowd and took questions.

When the Kroger presentation wrapped up, the dinner was served after a prayer and the pledge of allegiance.

At one table, Kroger workers served the seniors fruits, vegetable and deli items donated by the store. At another senior center volunteers served items from covered dishes brought in by members.

The monthly dinners have been growing since launched earlier this year, so much so, that the center had to host them at the church to accommodate the crowd. It has become a popular social event in the county, and several candidates for office could be seen mingling with attendees.

The senior center is located next to the Chesapeake Community Center, and Green invited all the dinner attendees to drop by for their weekly events.

“It takes one foot to go in that door, and, when you leave, you’ll have 30-35 buddies who will be your friends,” she said.

Green said Kroger would be sponsoring the center’s next dinner, set for 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30.